JP2020148944A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image formation device capable of stably bringing cleaning means into contact with a light emission surface of exposure means for cleaning the light emission surface without being affected by unstable motion in movement of attachment/detachment of a detachable unit, when the detachable unit comprising image holding means is attached to a device body.SOLUTION: An image formation device comprises: a detachable unit which has image holding means for holding an image and moves in a direction along an axial direction of the image holding means for being detachably attached to a device body; exposure means which is provided on the device body, and exposes the image holding means from a light emission surface which faces the image holding means at a required interval in a step in which the detachable unit is attached; and movement means 6 which is provided so as to move following movement when the detachable unit is detached in a state of a tip end side part of the detachable unit when being attached is fitted and stored in the device body, and which has a cleaning means cleaning the light emission surface 232a by contacting the light emission surface 232a of the exposure means 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

In Patent Document 1, an image holder unit that holds an image and moves in the axial direction thereof is attached to the image holder unit that is detachably provided with respect to the apparatus, and moves in the axial direction. An image forming apparatus provided with a cleaning means for cleaning the light irradiation surface by changing the cleaning surface of the cleaning unit is described.

Patent Document 2 describes an image forming apparatus provided with a head cleaner for cleaning the surface of an LED head lens for exposure at the head portion in the insertion direction of the drum developing unit to be inserted and removed.

Patent Document 3 describes an image forming apparatus that is detachably arranged with respect to the apparatus main body and is provided with a cleaning member that cleans the exposure apparatus when the image forming unit is provided with an image carrier. ing.

In Patent Document 4, a cleaning member for cleaning the light emitting surface of the exposure means is sandwiched between the image carrier and the light emitting surface of the exposure means and moved along the longitudinal direction of the exposure means to move the light emitting surface. Described is an image forming apparatus in which a cleaning device for an exposure means is provided so as to reciprocate along a longitudinal direction of the exposure means by a drive mechanism including a screw shaft and a slider screwed therein. There is.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-18132 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-60132 JP-A-2014-231207 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-25631

According to the present invention, when the attachment / detachment unit having the image holding means is attached / detached to / from the apparatus main body, the cleaning means is stabilized on the light emitting surface of the exposure means without being affected by unstable movement during the attachment / detachment of the attachment / detachment unit. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of cleaning the light emitting surface by contacting the light emitting surface.

The image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 1 is
An attachment / detachment unit that has an image holding means for holding an image and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body by moving in a direction along the axial direction of the image holding means.
An exposure means provided on the main body of the apparatus and exposing the image holding means from a light emitting surface facing the image holding means at a required interval when the attachment / detachment unit is attached.
The apparatus main body is provided so as to move along with the movement of the attachment / detachment unit when the attachment / detachment unit is attached / detached while accommodating the portion on the tip side when the attachment / detachment unit is attached, and comes into contact with the light emitting surface of the exposure means. A means of transportation having a cleaning means for cleaning the light emitting surface,
It is equipped with.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 2, in the invention according to claim 1, the apparatus main body has a guide portion for guiding the moving means to move while maintaining a distance from the light emitting surface. The moving means is provided with a guided portion guided by the guide portion.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the moving means of the attachment / detachment unit is attached to an inlet portion of the apparatus main body when the attachment / detachment unit is attached. It exists before mounting and after removal.
In the invention according to claim 3, the image forming apparatus according to claim 4 has a fixing projection on the apparatus main body for fixing the moving means in a state of being stopped at the inlet portion of the apparatus main body. The moving means is provided with a fixed portion to which the fixing protrusion is fitted and the position is fixed.
In the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the image forming apparatus according to claim 5 is fitted with a part of the attachment / detachment unit on the tip end side of the moving means. A portion is provided, and a portion to be fitted to the fitting portion is provided at a portion on the tip end side of the attachment / detachment unit.

The image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 3 above.
The device main body is provided with elastically deformable fixing protrusions that fix the moving means in a stopped state at the inlet portion of the device main body.
The moving means is provided with an opening-shaped fixed portion to which the fixing protrusion is fitted and the position is fixed.
The portion on the tip end side of the detachable unit is elastically deformed so as to be fitted to the fixed portion of the moving means and to push out the fixing protrusion of the device main body fitted to the fixed portion from the fixed portion. It is provided with a fitting projection for making it.

The image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 3 above.
As the detachable unit, a plurality of detachable units configured so that the colors of the images held by the image holding means are different from each other are provided.
The apparatus main body is provided with a plurality of mounting portions that are detachably mounted by distinguishing the plurality of attachment / detachment units by the color of the image to be held.
The moving means is arranged in each of the plurality of mounting portions, and is also provided with an identification portion having a position or shape that enables the plurality of attachment / detachment units to be fitted according to the color of the image to be held.
Each tip of the plurality of attachment / detachment units is provided with an identified portion having a position or shape that coincides with any one of the identification portions and is allowed to be fitted.
The image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 7.
The plurality of mounting portions of the apparatus main body are each provided with elastically deformable fixing projections for fixing the plurality of moving means in a stopped state at the inlet portion when the attachment / detachment unit of each mounting portion is mounted. Has been
Each of the plurality of moving means is provided with an opening-shaped fixed portion to which the fixing projections in the plurality of mounting portions are fitted and the positions are fixed.
The portion on the tip end side of the plurality of attachment / detachment units is fitted to the fixed portion of the plurality of moving means, and the fixing protrusion of the mounting portion fitted to the fixed portion is attached to the fixed portion. There are fitting protrusions that elastically deform to push out from each of them.
When the identified portion in the plurality of detachable units does not match the identified portion in the plurality of moving means, the fitting projection in the disagreeable detachable unit faces the portion on the tip end side of the detachable unit. The fixing protrusion fitted to the fixed portion in the moving means is configured to be maintained in a positional relationship that cannot be elastically deformed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the attachment / detachment unit having the image holding means is attached / detached to / from the apparatus main body, the cleaning means is provided without being affected by unstable movement during attachment / detachment of the attachment / detachment unit. The light emitting surface of the exposure means can be stably contacted to clean the light emitting surface.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the device main body is not provided with the guide portion and the moving means is not provided with the guided portion, the movement of the detachable unit is affected by unstable movement during attachment / detachment. The cleaning means can be brought into contact with the light emitting surface of the exposure means more stably to clean the light emitting surface.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the work of fitting and accommodating the moving means in the moving means of the detachable unit is easier than in the case where the moving means is not present at the inlet portion of the apparatus main body before and after the detachable unit is attached and detached. In addition, the attachment / detachment unit can be moved stably.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the moving means is attached to the inlet portion when the detachable unit is attached, as compared with the case where the moving means is not fixed to the inlet portion when the detachable unit of the apparatus main body is attached. It surely exists, and the work of accommodating the detachable unit in the means of transportation becomes easy.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the moving means is the tip of the detachable unit as compared with the case where the moving means is not provided with the fitting portion and the fitted portion is not provided on the portion on the tip end side of the detachable unit. The side part is securely housed and can be reliably moved as the detachable unit is moved when it is attached or detached.

According to the invention of claim 6, the tip of the detachable unit is attached when the detachable unit is attached, as compared with the case where the moving means is not fixed at the inlet portion when the detachable unit of the apparatus main body is attached. By fitting the side part into the moving means and accommodating it, the moving means can be moved with respect to the main body of the device, and when the detachable unit is removed, the tip side portion of the detachable unit is moved. By removing it from the device, the means of transportation can be fixed to the main body of the device.
According to the invention of claim 7, a plurality of images held so that the colors of the images to be held are different from each other as compared with the case where the moving means is not provided with the identification unit and the attachment / detachment unit is not provided with the identification unit. Even when the detachable unit is used, it is possible to prevent erroneous attachment of the detachable unit at an early stage at the stage of accommodating the tip end side portion of the detachable unit in the moving means.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when the detachable unit is to be accommodated in an incompatible moving means, the moving means does not move, and the detachable unit can be reliably prevented from being erroneously attached.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic sectional view which shows a part (image-making apparatus) in the image forming apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the state when the detachable unit is seen from different angles. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the state of the attachment part which attached a plurality of attachment / detachment units. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the mounting part which mounts a plurality of attachment / detachment units. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the state when one moving member is moved in the mounting part of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state when the moving member is seen from different angles. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a moving member and a mounting part when viewed from a different angle. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the moving member. It is a partial perspective view which shows the part on the tip end side of the detachable unit. It is a partial perspective view which shows the state which the part on the tip end side of the detachable unit is housed in the moving member. It is sectional drawing which shows the state before accommodating the part on the tip end side of the detachable unit into a moving member, and the state after accommodating. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the identification part in the moving member, and the identification part in the tip side part of the detachable unit. It is sectional drawing which shows the state when the part on the tip end side of the attachment / detachment unit by mistake is attached to the moving member by mistake.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
1 and 2 show the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The arrows indicated by reference numerals X, Y, and Z in other drawings including FIG. 1 indicate the width, height, and depth directions assumed in each drawing. Further, in FIG. 2 and the like, the circled symbols at the intersections of the arrows in the X and Y directions indicate that the Z direction points vertically downward in the drawing.

<Image forming device>
The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus for forming an image composed of toner as a developing agent on paper 9, which is an example of a recording medium, by using an image forming method such as an electrophotographic method. The image forming apparatus 1 is configured as a printer that forms an image corresponding to image information acquired from an external device such as an information terminal or an image reading device.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 1 forms a toner image as an unfixed image made of toner based on image information in the internal space of the housing 10 which is an example of the apparatus main body. The toner image formed by the forming means 2 and the image forming means 2 is temporarily held and conveyed, and then supplied to the intermediate transfer means 3 for secondary transfer to the paper 9 and the position for secondary transfer of the intermediate transfer means 3. It is provided with a paper feeding means 4 for accommodating and sending out the paper 9 to be to be used, and a fixing means 5 for fixing the toner image secondarily transferred by the intermediate transfer means 3 to the paper 9.

The housing 10 is a structure formed of various materials such as support members and exterior materials into a required structure and shape. The housing 10 is formed on a part of the upper surface portion of the housing 10 with a discharge accommodating portion 12 for accommodating the paper 9 to be ejected after the image is formed in a stacked state. Further, the housing 10 has a part of the side surface portion on the front side thereof, and a part of the inside of the housing 10 on the front side when performing inspection work or replacement work related to the image forming means 2, the intermediate transfer means 3, and the like. An opening / closing door 13 that opens / closes with the lower end as a fulcrum is provided so as to open. The alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 2 indicates the main transport path when the paper 9 is transported in the housing 10.

The image forming means 2 has four image forming devices 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K that exclusively form toner images of four colors, for example, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). It is composed of. The four image-forming devices 2 (Y, M, C, K) in the first embodiment are arranged so as to be slanted upward to the left inside the housing 10 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the four image forming devices 2 (Y, M, C, K) has a photosensitive drum 21 which is an example of an image holding means rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow A. are doing. Further, in each of the image forming apparatus 2 (Y, M, C, K), the charging device 22 for charging the image holding region of the photosensitive drum 21 and the charged image holding of the photosensitive drum 21 are around the photosensitive drum 21. An exposure apparatus 23, which is an example of an exposure means for forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each of the above four color components by exposing a region according to image information, and a static electricity formed on an image forming surface of a photosensitive drum 21. Equipment such as a developing device 24 that develops an electro-latent image with a toner of a corresponding color and a first cleaning device 26 that cleans the image-forming surface of the photosensitive drum 21 are arranged.
The developing apparatus 24 differs in that the toner of any one of the above four colors (Y, M, C, K) is shared and stored as the toner used for development. Therefore, the different colors are described below. The developing devices 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K are displayed corresponding to the four colors of. Further, in FIG. 2, for convenience, reference numerals 21 to 24 and 26 are all described in the black (K) image forming apparatus 2K, but only a part thereof is shown in the other color image forming apparatus 2Y, 2M, 2C. Is described.

The intermediate transfer means 3 is arranged inside the housing 10 on the upper side of the image forming apparatus 2 (Y, M, C, K) as the image forming means 2.
The intermediate transfer means 3 receives and holds the toner images formed by the image forming apparatus 2 (Y, M, C, K) by the primary transfer, and then rotates the intermediate transfer means 3 so as to convey the toner image to the position of the secondary transfer to the paper 9. A primary transfer device that first transfers each toner image formed on the transfer belt 31 and each photosensitive drum 21 of the image forming device 2 (Y, M, C, K) to an image holding region on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31. 33, a secondary transfer device 35 that secondarily transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 31 to the paper 9, and a second cleaning device 36 that cleans the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 are arranged. ing. The intermediate transfer belt 31 sequentially passes through the photosensitive drums 21 of the image forming apparatus 2 (Y, M, C, K), the secondary transfer apparatus 35, and the like in a state of being hung around the plurality of support rolls 32a to 32e. However, it rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow B.

The paper feeding means 4 is configured by arranging devices such as a paper accommodating body 41 for stacking and accommodating paper 9 on a movable loading plate 42 and a sending device 43 for feeding the paper 9 one by one from the paper accommodating body 41. ing. The paper 9 fed from the paper feed means 4 passes through a paper feed transfer path composed of a paper transfer roll 44, a transfer guide, and the like, and is connected to the intermediate transfer belt 31 and the secondary transfer device 35 in the intermediate transfer means 3. It is transported to the secondary transfer position in between.
The fixing means 5 is arranged above the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer means 3. The fixing means 5 is configured by arranging devices such as a rotating body 51 for heating and a rotating body 52 for pressurization in the internal space of the housing 50. The paper 9 fed from the fixing means 5 after fixing is conveyed to the discharge accommodating portion 12 via a discharge path including a paper transport roll 48, a transport guide, and the like.

<Detachable unit>
Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 4 and the like, the photosensitive drum 21, the charging apparatus 22, and the developing apparatus 24 in the four image forming apparatus 2 (Y, M, C, K) (Y, M, C, K) and the first cleaning device 26 are attached to the support frame 201 to form an integral structure, and then the shaft of the photosensitive drum 21 with respect to the attachment portion formed in the housing 10. It is configured as a detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) that is detachably attached by moving it in a direction along the direction D.

The detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is moved so as to be pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow E1 with respect to the mounting portion when mounting, and conversely pulled out from the mounting portion when removing. Move in the direction indicated by the arrow E2. In FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and the like, the right side (the point where the arrow Z points) corresponds to the back side (rear side) of the image forming apparatus 1, and the left side (the side opposite to the point where the arrow Z points). Corresponds to the front side (front side) of the image forming apparatus 1.

As shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the photosensitive drum 21 in the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) has left and right flanges on both ends of the photosensitive portion in which at least a photosensitive layer is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical substrate. The portions 21b and 21c are provided, and a part of the flange portions 21b and 21c is rotatably supported with respect to the left and right side end portions 201b and 201c of the support frame 201.

Further, the photosensitive drum 21 is provided with a connecting member (one of the couplings) 215 that receives rotational power output from a rotational driving device (not shown) on the housing 10 side outside the right flange portion 21c on the back side. Has been done. When the attachment / detachment unit 20 is attached, the connecting member 215 is attached to the output shaft of the rotary drive device on the housing 10 side inside the cylindrical exterior cover that also serves as the shaft portion (cup). It is detachably connected to the other side of the ring) to receive rotational power.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the charging device 22 in the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) rotates so as to contact and follow the image holding surface of the photosensitive drum 21, and the charging voltage. Is a contact charging type charging device using a charging roll 221 to which the device is supplied.

In the charging device 22, both ends of the charging roll 221 are rotatably supported with respect to the left and right side ends 201b and 201c of the support frame 201. When the detachable unit 20 is attached, the charging roll 221 is connected to a connection portion of a power feeding device (not shown) on the housing 10 side so that a charging voltage can be supplied.
Further, the charging device 22 includes a cleaning roll 223 that contacts and cleans the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 221. The cleaning roll 223 may be omitted.

The developing device 24 (Y, M, C, K) in the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) extends along the axial direction D of the photosensitive drum 21 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 4 and the like. A developing roll 241 holding the developing agent and transporting it so as to pass through a developing region facing the photosensitive drum 21 inside an elongated container-shaped housing 240, and developing while stirring the developing agent contained in the housing 240. It includes a stirring and transporting member 242 that circulates and transports the roll 241 to pass through, a layer thickness regulating member 243 that regulates the layer thickness of the developer held on the developing roll 241 and the like.

The developing roll 241 is provided with tracking rolls 244 that come into contact with each other at both ends of the transport roll 241a in order to maintain a distance from the photosensitive drum 21. Further, in the developing roll 241, at the right end portion on the back side of the housing 240, a connecting member 245 that receives rotational power output from a rotational driving device (not shown) on the housing 10 side is located on the right side of the support frame 201. It is provided so as to project outward from the side end portion 201c.

The housing 240 contains, for example, a required amount of a two-component developer containing toner and a carrier, and the developing roll 241 has a shaft as a fulcrum at the left and right side ends 201b and 201c of the support frame 201 at the upper portion thereof. It is attached so that it can swing in the direction of approaching and separating from the photosensitive drum 21.
Further, at the right end portion on the back side of the housing 240, as shown in FIG. 4B and the like, a replenishment receiver that receives toner supplied from a toner replenishment unit (not shown) and sends it into the housing 240. The portion 248 is provided so as to project outward from the right side end portion 201c of the support frame 201. A protrusion 248a to be inserted into a positioning hole (not shown) provided on the housing 10 side is provided on the end surface portion on the back side of the supply receiving portion 248.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first cleaning device 26 in the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is an elongated container-shaped housing 260 extending along the axial direction D of the photosensitive drum 21. A plate-shaped cleaning member 261 arranged so as to come into contact with the photosensitive portion 21a of the photosensitive drum 21 along the axial direction D, and unnecessary substances such as toner to be removed from the photosensitive drum 21 by the cleaning member 261 are collected. It is provided with a screw-shaped transport member 262 that is rotatably attached so as to transport the toner toward a collection container (not shown). The housing 260 is configured to also serve as a part of the support frame 201 in the detachable unit 20.

At the right end of the transport member 262, a gear 265 that receives rotational power from a rotational drive device (not shown) on the housing 10 side is partially exposed at a position protruding outward from the right end of the housing 260. It is provided in. Further, at the left end portion on the front side of the transport member 262, a tubular discharge pipe 266 for sending out unnecessary substances such as recovered toner to a collection container (not shown) is provided at the left end portion of the housing 260 and a support. It is provided so as to project outward from the left side end portion 201b of the frame 201.

Further, the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is located below the photosensitive drum 21 and sandwiched between the charging device 22 and the developing device 24, as shown in FIG. 4 (B) and the like. In addition, an arrangement space 202 is provided in which the exposure apparatus 23 is allowed to penetrate from the back side when the exposure apparatus 23 is attached.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4B and the like, the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is located on the lower side portion of the right side end portion 201c of the support frame 201, which will be described later. A back projection 204 is provided which is inserted into the positioning hole (16b) in the back side plate portion (16) of No. 14 to fix the mounting position.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and the like, the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is mounted on each of the mounting base frames 14 divided into four mounting areas by the plurality of partition plates 15. It is designed to be mounted on each mounting part (in the space) corresponding to the area. The mounting base frame 14 constitutes a part of the housing 10.

As shown in FIG. 5 and the like, the mounting base frame 14 is located at the end of each mounting area on the back side of the image forming apparatus 1, and is located on the back side of the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K). A side plate portion 16 for holding one end portion is provided.
The side plate portion 16 has a holding hole 16a for fitting and holding an exterior cover that also serves as a shaft portion of the connecting member 215 of the photosensitive drum 21 in the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K), and the right side of the support frame 201. A positioning hole 16b is provided for positioning by fitting the back side protrusion 204 on the side end portion 201c.

On the other hand, the remaining exposure apparatus 23 constituting the image forming apparatus 2 (Y, M, C, K) is arranged on the housing 10 side.
The exposure apparatus 23 employs an LED print head (LPH: LED Print Head) that uses an LED (Light Emitting Diode) as a light emitting source.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the exposure apparatus 23 including the LED print head has a light emitting chip in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged in a predetermined pattern in a direction along the axial direction D of the photosensitive drum 21 and its light emission. A light emitting unit substrate 231 provided with a circuit and wiring for driving a chip, a lens array 232 for forming an image of light emitted from the light emitting unit substrate 231 on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21, a light emitting unit substrate 231 and a lens array. It is composed of a head unit including a housing 234 that holds and integrates 232.
The lens array 232 has a light emitting surface 232a at the upper end thereof from which light is finally emitted. The light emitting surface 232a is formed as an elongated surface extending substantially linearly in the direction along the axial direction D of the photosensitive drum 21 (FIG. 9).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the exposure apparatus 23 includes a holding frame 233 for holding the head unit including the light emitting unit substrate 231 and the lens array 232 and the housing 234.
As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the holding frame 233 is attached so as to be fixed at a predetermined arrangement position in each of the partitioned mounting areas of the mounting base frame 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the holding frame 233 holds the entire head unit such as the lens array 232 so that the light emitting surface 232a is maintained at a required distance α from the photosensitive drum 21 in the detachable unit 20.

<Transportation and cleaning means>
Further, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and the like, the image forming apparatus 1 is on the tip side of each of the attachment / detachment units 20 (Y, M, C, K) when the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is attached to the attachment base frame 14 of the housing 10. A moving member 6 (Y, M,) which is an example of a moving means arranged so as to move with each movement when the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is attached / detached with the portions housed therein. C, K) is provided.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) is an example of a cleaning means that contacts the light emitting surface 232a of the lens array 232 in the exposure apparatus 23 to clean the light emitting surface 232a. It has a cleaning member 7 which is.

As shown in FIG. 8 and the like, each of the moving members 6 (Y, M, C, K) has a sliding portion 61 having a shape having a sliding surface 61a that slides on the mounting base frame 14, and sliding. A covering portion 62 having a shape that continuously passes over the upper part of the exposure apparatus 23 from the portion 61 and covers the upper part of the exposure apparatus 23, and the tips of the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) inside the sliding portion 61. A structure having an accommodating portion 63 having a shape for accommodating a replenishment receiving portion 248 as an example of a side portion and a cleaning portion 64 having a shape that also serves as a part of a covering portion 62 and to which a cleaning member 7 is attached. It is configured as a thing.

The sliding portion 61 is a container-shaped portion having a flat rectangular shape surrounded on three sides because it also serves as a housing portion 63. Further, the sliding portion 61 is arranged at a position on the left side of the exposure device 23 and facing the lower end of the developing device 24 in the attachment / detachment unit 20 when viewed from the front side of the image forming apparatus 1. Further, the sliding portion 61 is configured as a sliding surface 61a in which the back surface of the bottom surface facing the mounting base frame 14 is substantially flat.

The covering portion 62 is a portion having a shape capable of covering the upper part of the lens array 232 including the light emitting portion substrate 231 and the holding frame 233 in the exposure apparatus 23.
The covering portion 62 according to the first embodiment includes a ceiling portion 62a having a shape in which the cross-sectional shape protrudes upward and is substantially curved, and left and right side wall portions 62b extending hanging from the left and right ends of the ceiling portion 62a in the longitudinal direction. It has a connecting portion 62d for connecting the 62c, the lower end of the left side wall portion 62b and the sliding portion 61 also serving as the accommodating portion 63, and a bending portion 62e extending outward from the lower end of the right side wall portion 62c to the left side. There is. The left and right side wall portions 62b and 62c are portions that approach each other so as to sandwich the upper portion of the holding frame 233 in the exposure apparatus 23 from the left and right.

The accommodating portion 63 is a portion having a space capable of accommodating at least the lower portion of the replenishment receiving portion 248 of the developing device 24 (Y, M, C, K) in the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K). There is (Fig. 12).
The accommodating portion 63 in the first embodiment is formed as a recessed space existing inside the sliding portion 61. Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, the accommodating portion 63 is in a non-contact state with the side surface portion on the back side facing the opened side surface portion while avoiding the protrusion 248a in the supply receiving portion 248. A notch portion 63e to be present in the above is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the lower surface of the replenishment receiving portion 248 accommodated in the accommodating portion 63 is grounded so as to come into contact (landing) with the bottom surface of the accommodating portion 63 and to be in the state of complete accommodation. The portion 249 is provided so as to project downward.

The cleaning portion 64 is a portion of the covering portion 62 that is arranged on the back end side of the ceiling portion 62a. As shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the cleaning portion 64 in the first embodiment is a flat plate at the upper end in which a part of the ceiling portion 62a and a part of the left and right side wall portions 62b and 62c are projected upward from the ceiling portion 62a. It is a part that has a shape that is connected by a shaped top plate and surrounds three sides.

The cleaning member 7 is provided on a portion (lower surface of the top plate) of the cleaning unit 64 of the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) facing the light emitting surface 232a of the lens array 232 in the exposure apparatus 23. ..
Further, the cleaning member 7 is a cleaning member when the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) moves in conjunction with the moving operation when the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is attached / detached. At least the lower end of 7 is provided in a state where it can come into contact with the light emitting surface 232a. The cleaning member 7 at this time is provided so that the lower end portion thereof can come into contact with the light emitting surface 232a in a slightly biting state (FIG. 10).
Further, the cleaning member 7 is made of a material such as rubber or felt that does not scratch the light emitting surface 232a.

On the other hand, in the mounting base frame 14, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the region portion where the developing device 24 of each exposure device 23 is present in the above four mounting regions is the moving member 6 (Y, It is configured as a moving region for moving the sliding portions 61 of M, C, and K) so as to slide each of them.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) reciprocates in the moving region of the mounting base frame 14 along the light emitting surface 232a of each exposure apparatus 23. Each guide groove 17 is provided as an example of a guide portion that guides each cleaning member 7 so as to move and move each cleaning member 7 so as to maintain a distance that allows contact with each light emitting surface 232a.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9B, the guide groove 17 in the first embodiment is along the longitudinal direction of the light emitting surface 232a of each exposure device 23 (the direction along the axial direction D of the photosensitive drum 21). It is formed as a linear notch groove extending substantially in parallel.

On the other hand, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) is a sliding surface which is the back surface of the bottom surface of the sliding portion 61 facing the mounting base frame 14 as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 and the like. Each of 61a is provided with a guided projecting piece 66, which is an example of a guided portion guided by the guide groove 17 in the mounting base frame 14.
As shown in FIGS. 8C and 10, the guided projecting piece 66 according to the first embodiment has a shape that projects downward from the sliding surface 61a and then is bent in a state of being substantially parallel to the sliding surface 61a. It is formed as a bent protrusion piece having an L-shaped cross section. Further, the guided projecting piece 66 is bent to the side opposite to the side where the covering portion 62 exists.
The range of movement of the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) in the mounting base frame 14 is configured to be regulated by the positions of both ends of the guide groove 17 in the longitudinal direction.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 9, and the like, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) has the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) of the mounting base frame 14. The attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is arranged so as to exist before and after attachment / detachment of the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) at the entrance portion (end region on the front side) when the unit is attached.

In relation to the arrangement of the moving members 6 (Y, M, C, K), the mounting base frame 14 has the moving members 6 (Y, M, C, K) as shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and the like. ) Is provided at the entrance portion of the mounting base frame 14 in a stopped state.
As shown in FIGS. 7, 13 and the like, the fixing protrusion 18 in the first embodiment extends upward toward the connecting portion 62d of the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) in the mounting base frame 14. It is a protrusion having a plate-shaped support portion 18a provided and a protrusion fixing portion 18b that protrudes so as to enter the accommodating portion 63 at the upper portion of the support portion 18a.
Of these, as shown in FIG. 13B, the support portion 18a is configured to be elastically deformed so as to warp in the direction opposite to the protruding direction of the protruding fixing portion 18b when receiving an external force. Further, as shown in FIG. 13A, the projecting fixing portion 18b is formed with an inclined surface 18c that is inclined so as to protrude in the direction of projecting from the support portion 18a at the projecting upper corner portion.

Further, in response to the provision of the fixing protrusion 18, the fixing protrusion 18 is fitted into the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) as shown in FIGS. 8, 9 (A) and the like. A fixed hole 67 is provided, which is an example of a fixed portion whose position is fixed.
The fixed hole 67 in the first embodiment is a hole having an opening shape extending from the upper part of the side wall surface of the accommodating portion 63 near the covering portion 62 so as to bend and bite into a part of the connecting portion 62d. Further, the fixed hole 67 has a shape that can exist in a state where the protruding fixing portion 18b of the fixing protrusion 18 is inserted, and the protruding fixing portion into which the front side hole side portion and the back side hole side side portion are inserted. The moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) is prevented from moving by being able to come into contact with the 18b. Further, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 9A, the fixed hole 67 projects upward from the connecting portion 62d so as to surround three sides at the portion formed in the connecting portion 62d. The shape introduction portion 67c is formed.

Further, in response to the provision of the fixed hole 67, the replenishment receiving portion 248 of the developing device 24 (Y, M, C, K) in the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12 and the like, a fitting protrusion 29 is provided which is fitted into the fixed hole 67 and elastically deforms the fixing protrusion 18 fitted in the fixed hole 67 so as to be pushed out from the fixed hole 67. There is.
The fitting protrusion 29 according to the first embodiment is provided in a state of protruding from the side surface portion of the supply receiving portion 248 on the side facing the fixed hole 67. Further, the fitting protrusion 29 is formed in a shape that can be fitted into the fixed hole 67 when the supply receiving portion 248 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 63. Further, the fitting projection 29 has an inclined surface 29c formed at a lower corner portion thereof so as to be inclined in substantially the same state as the inclined surface 18c in the protruding fixing portion 18b of the fixing projection 18.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 is configured such that each mounting portion of the mounting base frame 14 classifies the detachable units 20 (Y, M, C, K) according to the four colors and mounts them exclusively. (Fig. 5).
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 14, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) holds four detachable units 20 (Y, M, C, K) on the photosensitive drum 21. Identification units 81 (Y, M, C, K) having different positions are provided so that the toner image can be fitted according to the color of the toner image.
Correspondingly, the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) has a plurality of identifications in the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) as shown in FIGS. 11, 14 and the like. Identified portions 82 (Y, M, C, K) are provided so as to coincide with any one of the portions 81 (Y, M, C, K) and exist at positions where fitting is permitted.

As shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the identification unit 81 (Y, M, C, K) in the first embodiment is a convex identification unit having the same shape protruding from the bottom surface of the accommodation unit 63. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the identification unit 81 (Y, M, C, K) moves on the bottom surface of the accommodating unit 63 when the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is attached or detached. It is provided so as to be displaced from each other in a direction substantially orthogonal to the directions E1 and E2 and exist at different positions.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11 and the like, the identified portion 82 (Y, M, C, K) in the first embodiment has a concave shape having the same shape recessed in the ground contact portion 249 on the lower surface of the supply receiving portion 248. It is the identified part. Further, as shown in FIG. 14 and the like, the identified portion 82 (Y, M, C, K) can be fitted with any of the identification portions 81 (Y, M, C, K) at the grounding portion 249. The detachable units 20 (Y, M, C, K) are provided so as to be displaced from each other in a direction substantially orthogonal to the moving directions E1 and E2 and exist at different positions.
The concave identification portion 82 (Y, M, C, K) allows the intrusion of the matching convex identification portion 81 (Y, M, C, K) to be accommodated. , The incompatible identification unit 81 (Y, M, C, K) is not allowed to enter and is not accommodated.
Further, the concavely identified portions 82 (Y, M, C, K) are formed by being partitioned by adjusting frame portions 249a to 249f formed inside the grounding portion 249 and formed of one or two. Has been done. The adjusting frame portions 249a to 249f at this time are all formed at the same height as the ground contact portion 249.

Then, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is attached / detached, the intermediate transfer means 3 is moved from the normal position by operating a moving mechanism (not shown) prior to the attachment / detachment work. It is configured to be moved to the upper retracted position. Needless to say, the opening / closing door 13 is opened when the attachment / detachment work is performed.
As a result, in the image forming apparatus 1, the intermediate transfer belt 31 of the intermediate transfer means 3 is kept in a non-contact state in which the intermediate transfer belt 31 of the intermediate transfer means 3 is completely separated from the photosensitive drum 21 in each attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K), and the attachment / detachment thereof. The unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) can be attached and detached.

<Installation of detachable unit>
The attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) in the image forming apparatus 1 is attached as follows.

The attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) should be inspected and repaired when an unused new attachment / detachment unit 20 is used for the first time, or when it is replaced with a new attachment / detachment unit 20 due to a defect in the photosensitive drum 21 or the like. This is performed at a time such as when the detachable unit 20 temporarily removed during the work is reattached as needed.

When the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is attached, as shown in FIG. 1, the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is an entrance when the attachment base frame 14 constituting the attachment portion in the housing 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 is attached. After approaching the portion, as shown in FIG. 12, the replenishment receiving portion 248, which is the end portion on the tip side of the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K), exists so as to stand by at the inlet portion thereof. It is accommodated in the accommodating portion 63 of the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) having a predetermined color.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 13A, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) is mounted on a fixed hole 67 which is continuously opened in the accommodating portion 63 and the connecting portion 62d. By fitting the fixing protrusion 18 on the frame 14, the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) can be moved in any of the movement directions E1 and E2 when the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is attached or detached. I couldn't do it, and I was stopped at the entrance.
Therefore, it is possible to stably accommodate the replenishment receiving portion 248 of the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) in the accommodating portion 63 of the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K). is there.

At this time, if the replenishment receiving portion 248 of the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is normally accommodated in the accommodating portion 63 of the corresponding appropriate moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K). , As shown in FIG. 13 (B), the fitting projection 29 in the replenishment receiving portion 248 descends during accommodation so as to come into contact with the fixing projection 18 and push the fixing projection 18 out of the fixed hole 67. Elastically deforms to.
As a result, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) in which the replenishment receiving portion 248 of the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is normally housed is released from the locked state by the fixing protrusion 18. , It becomes a state where it can move in the moving directions E1 and E2. The release of the locked state by the fixing projection 18 of the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) causes the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) to be accommodated in the accommodating portion 63 of the replenishment receiving portion 248. Since it is performed in conjunction with each other, it is easier to handle than in the case of a configuration in which the release operation is performed separately.

Then, when the replenishment receiving portion 248 of the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is normally accommodated in the accommodating portion 63 of the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K), the detachable unit 20 (Y) , M, C, K) can be pushed in toward the moving direction E1 when mounted.

At this time, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) moves integrally in accordance with the movement of the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) in the moving direction E1, and the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) moves as a unit in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13B, the cleaning member 7 provided in the cleaning unit 64 moves in contact with the light emitting surface 232a of the lens array 232 in the exposure apparatus 23.

Further, at this time, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) receives the load of the tip end side portion of the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) in which the sliding portion 61 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 63. While moving in a sliding state while stably contacting the upper surface of the mounting base frame 14. Further, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) at this time is a guided projecting piece 66 provided on the bottom surface (lower surface) of the sliding portion 61, as shown in FIGS. 9 (B) and 10. Is guided by the linear guide groove 17 in the mounting base frame 14 and moves stably.
In particular, since the bent portion of the guided projecting piece 66 is in contact with the lower surface 14b of the mounting base frame 14, for example, the push-shaped body of the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K). Even if the sliding portion 61 behaves as if it were lifted from the upper surface of the mounting base frame 14 due to factors such as fluctuations, the behavior is different from that in the case where the guided projecting piece 66 is not present. Occurrence is suppressed or prevented.

Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is attached, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) and thus the cleaning member 7 are the light emitting surfaces of the exposure apparatus 23. The cleaning member 7 is moved while maintaining a distance to the 232a, and the cleaning member 7 stably contacts the light emitting surface 232a of the exposure apparatus 23 without being affected by unstable movement during the movement when the cleaning member 7 is mounted. The light emitting surface 232a is stably and satisfactorily cleaned.
As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is attached, the light emitting surface 232a of the exposure apparatus 23 is easily cleaned according to the attachment work, and the light emitting surface is easily cleaned. The maintenance work of 232a is unknowingly executed.

Further, in the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K), the supply receiving portion 248, which is a portion on the tip end side thereof, is accommodated in the accommodating portion 63 of the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K). It can be moved so as to be guided by the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K), and the movement is stable.
Further, since the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is in a state where the fitting projection 29 is fitted into the fixed hole 67 in the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K), the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is 20. The moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) can be reliably moved after the replenishment receiving portion 248 of (Y, M, C, K) is securely accommodated in the accommodating portion 63 and integrated. As a result, the light emitting surface 232a of the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) is reliably cleaned by the cleaning member 7.

By the way, when the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) reaches the stage where the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is completely attached, the attachment base frame is partially illustrated in FIG. It stops at the position on the back side of 14, and stops at the position on the back side of the mounting base frame 14 together with the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K).
At this time, the fitting projection 29 in the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) that has been mounted is maintained in a state of being fitted into the fixed hole 67 in the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K). Therefore, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) is kept integrated with the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K). At this time, the cleaning member 7 is configured to pass through the inner end of the light emitting surface 232a and be kept in a state of not being in contact with the light emitting surface 232a.

<Removal of detachable unit>
Next, the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) in the image forming apparatus 1 is removed as follows.

That is, the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) to be removed is pulled out from the mounting portion by moving it in the direction indicated by the arrow E2 along the axial direction D of the photosensitive drum 21.

At this time, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) moves integrally in accordance with the movement of the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) in the moving direction E2, and at the same time, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13B, the cleaning member 7 provided in the cleaning unit 64 moves in contact with the light emitting surface 232a of the lens array 232 in the exposure apparatus 23.
Further, at this time, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) moves stably in the same manner as when the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) described above is mounted.

Further, at this time, the movement of the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) in the moving direction E2 is stopped by the guided protruding piece 66 being restricted at the position of the end portion on the front side of the guide groove 17. Be done.
At the stop position of the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K), the fixed hole 67 faces the fixing protrusion 18. Further, in this stop position, the fitting protrusion 29 in the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) comes into contact with the fixing protrusion 18 again, and the fixing protrusion 18 is elastically deformed and pushed out from the fixed hole 67. become.

Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1, even when the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is removed, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) and the cleaning member 7 emit light from the exposure apparatus 23. The cleaning member 7 comes into stable contact with the light emitting surface 232a of the exposure apparatus 23 without being affected by the unstable movement during the movement when the surface 232a is removed, and as a result, the cleaning member 7 stably contacts the light emitting surface 232a of the exposure apparatus 23. , The light emitting surface 232a is stably and satisfactorily cleaned.
As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is removed, the light emitting surface 232a of the exposure apparatus 23 is easily cleaned according to the removal work, and the light emitting surface is easily cleaned. The maintenance work of 232a is unknowingly executed.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the replenishment receiving portion 248 of the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) to be removed is lifted and taken out from the accommodating portion 63 of the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K). , As shown in FIG. 13A, the fitting projection 29 in the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) rises to fix the hole 67 in the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K). The state in which the fitting protrusion 29 elastically deforms the fixing protrusion 18 so as to be pushed out from the fixed hole 67 is released, and the fixing protrusion 18 is restored and fitted into the fixed hole 67.

As a result, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) cannot move in any of the moving directions E1 and E2 of the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K), and the mounting base It is in a stopped state at the entrance portion of the frame 14. That is, in the image forming apparatus 1, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) is stopped at the entrance portion, which is the removal work of the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K). It is done in conjunction.
Further, as a result, when the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) stopped at the entrance portion is attached, the attachment / detachment unit 20 is attached. The storage operation of the supply receiving unit 248 in the storage unit 63 in (Y, M, C, K) is stably performed.

<Prevention of incorrect installation>
Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, if the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is to be attached to the attachment portion of the wrong color (different color) instead of the attachment portion of the corresponding color, the following Become in a state.

That is, when the replenishment receiving portion 248 of the wrong attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is accommodated in the accommodating portion 63 of the inappropriate moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) that does not correspond to the replenishment receiving portion 248. Since the identified unit 82 in the supply receiving unit 248 does not match the identification unit 81 in the accommodating unit 63, it cannot be normally accommodated in the accommodating unit 63.
That is, at this time, as illustrated in FIG. 15, with respect to any of the adjustment frame portions 249a to 249f of the grounding portion 249 in the supply receiving portion 248 of the wrong attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K). The identification unit 81 in the accommodating unit 63 is in a state of collision, and the identification unit 81 is not allowed to enter the identified unit 82.

As a result, the detachable unit is at the stage where the replenishment receiving portion 248, which is the tip end side portion of the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K), is accommodated in the accommodating portion 63 of the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K). It is possible to make the user recognize the erroneous mounting of 20 at an early stage, and the erroneous mounting is prevented at an early stage.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, as illustrated in FIG. 15, the identified portion 82 in the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) is in the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K). When the identification portion 81 does not match, the fitting protrusion 29 in the detachable unit 20 that does not match is fitted into the fixed protrusion 67 in the moving member 6 that intends to accommodate the supply receiving portion 248 of the detachable unit 20. It is configured to maintain a positional relationship in which 18 cannot be elastically deformed. That is, the fitting protrusion 29 in the detachable unit 20 that does not match is not allowed to be accommodated in the accommodating portion 63 of the replenishment receiving portion 248, so that the fixing projection 18 is kept in a stopped state at a position where it cannot be elastically deformed. It has become.

As a result, when the detachable unit 20 is to be accommodated in the accommodating portion 63 of the incompatible moving member 6, the moving member 6 does not move due to the locking of the fixing protrusion 18, and the detachable unit 20 is erroneously attached. Is definitely prevented. In particular, in this case, it is possible to prevent the detachable unit 20 having a different color from being mounted halfway through the mounting portion.

[Other variants]
The present invention is not limited to the contents illustrated in the first embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of each invention described in each claim. For example, the present invention also includes the following modifications.

In the first embodiment, a configuration example is shown in which the fitting protrusion 29 of the detachable unit 20 is fitted into the fixed hole 67 of the moving member 6, but the fitting protrusion 29 of the detachable unit 20 is the accommodating portion 63 of the moving member 6. It may be configured to be fitted into a fitted portion such as a notch provided at a position different from the position of the fixed hole 67. In the case of this configuration, a portion having a function of elastically deforming the fixing protrusion 18 to be fitted into the fixed hole 67 may be provided in the supply receiving portion 248 of the detachable unit 20.
Further, when the replenishment receiving portion 248, which is the portion on the tip end side of the detachable unit 20, is accommodated in the accommodating portion 63 of the moving member 6, a plurality of sets of fitting portions and fitted portions that are fitted and integrated with each other are provided. It may be configured as follows.

Further, in the first embodiment, a configuration example is shown in which the accommodating portion 63 of the moving member 6 is provided with the convex identification portion 81, and the replenishment receiving portion 248 of the attachment / detachment unit 20 is provided with the concave identification portion 82. However, the accommodating portion 63 may be provided with a concave identification portion 81, and the replenishment receiving portion 248 may be provided with a convex identification portion 82.
Further, in the first embodiment, for example, when the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) does not include the developing device 24 (Y, M, C, K), the identification unit 81 and the cover are covered. The configuration in which the identification unit 82 is provided may be omitted.
Further, even when the detachable unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) includes the developing device 24 (Y, M, C, K), the configuration in which the identification unit 81 and the identified unit 82 are provided may be omitted. In this case, for example, the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K) is colored with the colors corresponding to the four colors of the moving member 6 (Y, M, C, K). You may take measures to call attention by the difference in appearance color and prevent the attachment / detachment unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) from being erroneously attached.

Further, the image forming apparatus provided with the detachable unit 20 and the moving member 6 may be an image forming apparatus that employs a method of directly transferring (primary transfer) the toner image to the paper 9 without using the intermediate transfer means 3. Good. In addition to this, an image forming apparatus that forms a monochromatic image such as a black color (K) may be used. The exposure apparatus 23 may be an exposure apparatus having a method other than the LED printhead method as long as it has a light emitting surface.

The detachable unit 20 may include at least a photosensitive drum 21 and may include a moving member 6 to be removed after being attached to the attachment portion of the apparatus main body. Therefore, the detachable unit 20 may be composed of only the photosensitive drum 21, and other components (charging device 22, developing device 24, first cleaning) of the image forming apparatus 2 to be combined with the photosensitive drum 21. The device 26 and the like) are also not particularly limited.
The portion on the tip end side to be accommodated in the accommodating portion 63 of the moving means 6 of the detachable unit 20 may be a portion other than the replenishment receiving portion 248.

1 ... Image forming device 6 ... Moving member (example of moving means)
7 ... Cleaning member (an example of cleaning means)
8 ... Contact prevention member (an example of contact prevention means)
10 ... Housing (example of device body)
20 ... Detachable unit 21 ... Photosensitive drum (example of image holding means)
23 ... Exposure device (example of exposure means)
232a ... Light emitting surface (example of light emitting surface)
248 ... Supply receiving part (an example of the part on the tip side)
D ... Axial direction E1 ... Moving direction when mounting E2 ... Moving direction when removing

Claims (8)

An attachment / detachment unit that has an image holding means for holding an image and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body by moving in a direction along the axial direction of the image holding means.
An exposure means provided on the main body of the apparatus and exposing the image holding means from a light emitting surface facing the image holding means at a required interval when the attachment / detachment unit is attached.
The apparatus main body is arranged so as to move along with the movement of the attachment / detachment unit when the attachment / detachment unit is attached / detached while accommodating the portion on the tip side when the attachment / detachment unit is attached, and comes into contact with the light emitting surface of the exposure means. A means of transportation having a cleaning means for cleaning the light emitting surface,
An image forming apparatus equipped with. The device main body is provided with a guide portion that guides the moving means to move while maintaining a distance from the light emitting surface.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving means is provided with a guided portion guided by the guide portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the moving means exists at an inlet portion of the main body of the device when the detachable unit is attached before and after the detachable unit is attached. The device main body is provided with a fixing protrusion for fixing the moving means in a stopped state at the inlet portion of the device main body.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the moving means is provided with a fixed portion to which the fixing protrusion is fitted and the position is fixed. The moving means is provided with a fitting portion into which a part of the portion on the tip end side of the attachment / detachment unit is fitted.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a fitted portion to be fitted to the fitting portion is provided on a portion on the tip end side of the detachable unit. The device main body is provided with elastically deformable fixing protrusions that fix the moving means in a stopped state at the inlet portion of the device main body.
The moving means is provided with an opening-shaped fixed portion to which the fixing protrusion is fitted and the position is fixed.
The portion on the tip end side of the detachable unit is elastically deformed so as to be fitted to the fixed portion of the moving means and to push out the fixing protrusion of the device main body fitted to the fixed portion from the fixed portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a fitting projection for making the image is provided. As the detachable unit, a plurality of detachable units configured so that the colors of the images held by the image holding means are different from each other are provided.
The apparatus main body is provided with a plurality of mounting portions that are detachably mounted by distinguishing the plurality of attachment / detachment units by the color of the image to be held.
The moving means is arranged in each of the plurality of mounting portions, and is also provided with an identification portion having a position or shape that enables the plurality of attachment / detachment units to be fitted according to the color of the image to be held.
The image according to claim 3, wherein each tip of the plurality of attachment / detachment units is provided with an identified portion having a position or shape that matches any one of the identification portions and is allowed to be fitted. Forming device. The plurality of mounting portions of the apparatus main body are each provided with elastically deformable fixing projections for fixing the plurality of moving means in a stopped state at the inlet portion when the attachment / detachment unit of each mounting portion is mounted. Has been
Each of the plurality of moving means is provided with an opening-shaped fixed portion to which the fixing projections in the plurality of mounting portions are fitted and the positions are fixed.
The portion on the tip end side of the plurality of attachment / detachment units is fitted to the fixed portion of the plurality of moving means, and the fixing protrusion of the mounting portion fitted to the fixed portion is attached to the fixed portion. There are fitting protrusions that elastically deform to push out from each of them.
When the identified portion in the plurality of detachable units does not match the identified portion in the plurality of moving means, the fitting projection in the disagreeable detachable unit faces the portion on the tip end side of the detachable unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the fixing protrusion fitted to the fixed portion in the moving means is maintained in a positional relationship that cannot be elastically deformed.

Images